Water shortage affects 153 Barangays in Metro Manila

Residents get their pails and containers in line to fetch water at a local well at Barangay Payatas in Manila, the Philippines, July 19, 2010. Barangay Payatas is just one of the 153 Barangays in Metro Manila affected by water shortage. Despite the rains, water level in the Angat Dam continues to recede by one centimeter every hour due to El Nino phenomenon that occured from last quarter of 2009 until early last month, causing water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. to cut its July water supply by 30 percent. (Xinhua/Jon Fabrigar)